Linkages

The Linkages program is a permanent supportive housing voucher program for persons with a severe mental illness who are homeless or precariously housed. The program is permanently funded by the state's Human Services Depatment through the Behavioral Health Purchasing Collaborative. MFA administers the rental assistance portion of the program on behalf of the collaborative.

Linkages was created in 2007 to provide permanent supportive housing for homeless adults who are diagnosed with severe mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse issues. Individuals are clients of an authorized support service provider. They are referred to a Linkages housing administator and are receiving on-going case management.

When the program began, services and housing were limited to three areas of New Mexico. With an additional allocation by the state legislature in 2014, Linkages expanded to two new counties.

Linkages covers rent, security deposits, utility deposits and pays for application fees and background checks. Supportive services include monthly unit inspections. Tenants are allow to stay in the program until they are self-sufficient and can pay their own rent.

No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program, service or activity receiving federal financial assistance or under any program or activity conducted by any Executive agency or by the United States Postal Service.